A Level Course Listing
The role of Geography in society is perhaps more important than ever. Governments, organisations and individuals are having to grapple with increasingly complex social, economic and environmental problems. Population growth, global warming, poverty, dwindling energy resources, and the degradation of environments and habitats, are issues that touch the lives of all of us on the planet.
An important dimension in all these issues is space. Recognising where events are happening and how processes vary spatially is a first step in trying to resolve many of the impacts associated with human activity. In this way Geography aims to provide a broad-ranging perspective on the nature of human activity and how this activity transforms the face of the earth. The search for this understanding involves investigating the nature of the physical earth, its habitation by humans, and the resulting diversity of regions and places.
Following these general themes Geography at A Level offers opportunities to:
i. stimulate your interest in your surroundings and in the variety of human and physical conditions on the earth’s surface
ii. foster your sense of wonder at the beauty of the world around you
iii. help you to develop an informed concern about the quality of the environment and the future of the human habitat and thereby enhance your sense of responsibility for the care of the earth and its people
The contemporary relevance of Geography makes its study both rewarding and enjoyable. Additionally, the discipline develops skills that are valued by both business and industry.
The Geography department provides an exciting and up- to-date A Level curriculum. We use the latest university research in our teaching, adapt topic content to reflect issues as they are happening in the news and conduct a large and varied range of fieldwork. We also strive to deliver the best possible teaching and members of the department are aided in meeting this goal through their work with universities, subject organisations and businesses. Nationally, the department is leading in the use of Geographical Information Systems (GIS). Currently, GIS technology is the most powerful set of tools that exists for the analysis and visualisation of spatial information. As a consequence, any student wishing to follow a career in Geography is very likely to use GIS.
The department is therefore committed to the use of GIS in its teaching to ensure that all students gain skills of growing importance in the workplace.
Unemployment amongst Geography graduates is so low because the skills they learn are highly marketable. Geography is also relevant to a number of specific careers, including Management and Environmental Consultancy, Surveying, Agriculture, Town Planning, Recreation Management and Conservation, Cartography, Meteorology, Oceanography, Geology, Research, International Aid and Development, Teaching and Geographical Analysis.
Examination board: OCR H481
At least a grade 6 at GCSE.
Coastal Landscapes, Water and Carbon Cycles.
22% of Total A Level.
Changing Spaces; Making Places, Global Migration, Human Rights.
Disease Dilemmas, Hazardous Earth.
36% of Total A Level.
Independent Geographical Research.
20% of Total A Level.
Investigative geography gives you the opportunity to undertake an independent investigation which is of particular interest to you, which can be related to any area of the specification.